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THE ESSEX NATURALIST.
Cocksfoot Grass (Dactylis glomerata L.). Scanty ; the decumbent
shoots with broad flat-folded leaves are too coarse for good
turf.
Smooth Meadow-grass (Poa pratensis L.). Abundant and deep
rooting ; the leaf blades are folded flat as in Cocksfoot, but
are much narrower and glossy on the back.
Annual Meadow-grass (P. annua L.). The only annual plant of
our turf. It is low growing and seeds freely ; it occurs
where other plants have died under shade or drip from
branches or have been worn away by traffic.
Sheep's Fescue (Festuca ovina L.). Abundant, especially about
the patches of Bedstraw ; with its dense growth of almost
cylindrical leaves it forms ideal turf. It is much valued on
golf-courses.
Dog's-tail Grass (Cynosurus cristatus L.). Local.
Rye-grass (Lolium perenne L.). Abundant, and easily recognized
by the shining outer surface of the leaves.
Three species of moss occur on our lawn : Eurhynchium
praelongum Bruch. and Sch., with its fernlike sprays, is frequent
in some parts amongst grass. Ceratodon purpureus Brid. grows
freely on the exposed edge of the turf in spite of periodic shearing ;
it is also abundant on disused paths, but does not fruit with us.
Bryum argenteum L. occurs in a few places where the grass is
thin.
I may mention here that Tortula muralis Redw. flourishes
and fruits on old bricks and stones sheltered from smoke-borne
winds.
The Liverwort Lunularia cruciata Dum., with its flat fronds,
occurs sparingly among thin grass. At one time we had fine
fruiting colonies of Marchantia polymorpha on a disused path,
but it has disappeared under sifted cinders.
Mention should be made of some of the Fungi which appear
on the lawn with great regularity at certain seasons. We have
observed them for many years, and it may be that their mycelium
or spawn, from which the fruiting caps arise, is nearly as old as
the turf itself. Such are :—
Galera tenera Fries. with small bell-shaped orange caps and orange
spores, and a scattered habit.
Nolanea pascua Fries. Abundant in autumn and forming
fairy rings ; the broad glossy dark brown caps are shortly
stalked and have pink gills and spores.